Author: Jessica Flynn
Review: Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) Brings New Twist To Old Classic
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★★★★☆ How do you reinvent one of the most beloved novels ever written? If you’re Isobel McArthur, the answer is simple: hand the microphone to the servants and let chaos reign. Direct from its Olivier Award-winning West End run, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) arrives at Athenaeum Theatre Melbourne with all the…
Review: Prima Facie Leaves Its Audience In Silence
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★★★★★ There are some shows that are pure entertainment, and there are shows that imprint themselves on you. Prima Facie, at the Comedy Theatre Melbourne, is firmly the latter. It is haunting, devastating and thoughtful theatre that forces you to dismantle your own belief system and question the social norms that formed…
Review: Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett Makes Triumphant Return To Melbourne
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★★★★★ From the moment you step into Club Kabarett’s sultry re-envisioning of Meat Market in North Melbourne, it’s clear this isn’t your typical night out at the theatre. Boys and girls, the sexy circus is in town! Prepare to be swept up, shaken about, and seduced into something a little…
Review: Melanie Bracewell Dilly Dallying 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
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★★★★☆ Effortlessly funny and quietly masterful, award-winning comedian, presenter, and writer Melanie Bracewell’s latest offering at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is a reminder of just how satisfying great storytelling comedy can be. Melanie sparkles and shines with the kind of radiance only a comedian who knows exactly who they…
Review: Jordan Barr Choir Girl 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
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★★★★☆ There’s something immediately disarming about Triple J Weekend Breakfast host Jordan Barr’s Choir Girl. The show feels like you’ve just sat down for a slightly unhinged catch-up with a friend, rather than a formal performance. Jordan is charming, sharp, and just outrageous enough to keep you both captivated and mildly…
Review: The Book Of Mormon Hits Melbourne With Big Laughs
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Jones Theatrical Group and Marriner Group’s latest rendition of The Book of Mormon is a raucous and raunchy musical comedy with absolutely no intention of behaving itself. The Book of Mormon has stood the test of time because it dares to be outrageous and is clever enough to earn every…
Review: My Brilliant Career Shines In A Glorious Encore Season
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My Brilliant Career, brought to you by Melbourne Theatre Company, is back for an encore season after a smash hit in 2024. Directed by Anne-Louise Sarks, this is a masterclass in Australian theatre. The award-winning musical brings bush ballads, pop, and pub-rock tunes all under the southern cross sky. What a…
Review: A Christmas Carol Is A Radiant Reminder Of Hope
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Stepping into the Comedy Theatre for A Christmas Carol feels like being wrapped in a warm, festive glow. The classic story is brought to life with charm and theatrical magic, bringing in the holiday season with a resounding ‘Bah, Humbug’! From the moment the lights dim, the atmosphere is rich in Victorian…
Review: RED Paints A Captivating Canvas Of Contradictions
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Directed by Iain Sinclair, Little Life Productions’ and Company 16’s staging of RED is a masterpiece. The Tony Award-winning show examines Mark Rothko’s relentless pursuit of artistic purity and intensity. Written by John Logan, it expands on true events: Rothko’s commission to paint a series of murals for the Four…
Film Review: The Glendronach Whisky Meets Film Experience
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Elegance, glamour, and class are the first things that come to mind when stepping into the Palace Cinema at the Como for an exclusive whisky pairing evening. Bringing whisky and cinema together is genius and makes for an elevated evening that steps you out of the ordinary movie night slump.…
Review: School Of Rock Turns Up The Volume & Totally Shreds
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School of Rock is the latest musical presented by Theatrical Inc. and it’s a fun, high-energy explosion. Directed by Cody Riker, a regional Tony award winner, it’s playing at The National Theatre, St Kilda. The story follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star who gets kicked out of his band…
Review: American Psycho Has Killer Tunes And Bloody Good Fun
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American Psycho: A Musical Thriller reminds us that sometimes the scariest monsters don’t lurk in the shadows, they strut Wall Street in Armani. See You Sunday’s debut production manages to walk the line between dark satire and visceral horror. Under the direction of Mark Taylor, it will have you in laughter…
Review: The Play That Goes Wrong Brings Mayhem To Melbourne
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Sometimes, a night at the theatre is about being transported into another world. Other times, it’s about sheer, unadulterated laughter. The Play That Goes Wrong, now on in Melbourne, firmly lands in the latter camp. It delivers two hours of slapstick chaos, comic timing, and the kind of theatrical mayhem that…
Review: Tarzan The Musical Brings Disney Magic And Jungle Energy
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Disney’s Tarzan: The Stage Musical has swung into the National Theatre St Kilda with an explosion of colour, soaring acrobatics, and heartfelt storytelling. Presented by James Terry Collective, this stage adaptation of the beloved 1999 film invites audiences deep into the jungle where soaring vocals, breath-catching aerial tricks, and family come together…
Review: In The Heights Pulses With Joy Rhythm And Heart
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In The Heights, presented by Marriner Group and Joshua Robson Productions, is a celebration of community, culture, and colour. It is a high-energy peek into the kaleidoscopic patchwork of Washington Heights, a neighbourhood in New York City plagued by its state of limbo yet uplifted by its stubborn flicker of…
Review: Kimberly Akimbo Is A Tender Twisted Triumph
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After making a splash in Adelaide, the four-time Tony award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo has come to Melbourne! Set in Bergen County, New Jersey, in 1999, this Melbourne Theatre Company and State Theatre Company South Australia joint production is a joyous and colourful celebration of the little and big moments in life. Marina…
Review: Legally Blonde Is Guilty Of Being Fabulous
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Legally Blonde: The Musical at The National Theatre in St Kilda is an unmissable sparkling triumph in pink. The show from Theatrical Inc. delivers infectious fun, pep, and heart as directed by Aimee Forrest. It delivers exactly what we need to break through the dreariness of a Melbourne winter. It’s warm,…
Review: Mother Play Is A Devastating And Beautiful Meditation On Family
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Hot off the heels of a successful Broadway run, Mother Play by Melbourne Theatre Company is a poignant and moving exploration of family, resilience and the complexities of motherhood. Directed by Lee Lewis, the Tony nominated play features a star-studded Australian cast led by Sigrid Thornton, Yael Stone, and Ash…
Review: Hedwig And The Angry Inch Is Theatrical Adrenaline
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From the first electrifying guitar riff to the final standing-ovation–worthy note, Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Athenaeum Theatre is nothing short of theatrical adrenaline. This production blasts off with unapologetic swagger, delivering an emotional rollercoaster that punches hard, laughs harder, and ultimately leaves you profoundly moved. Right away, the staging…
Review: Mel And Sam No Hat, No Play! 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
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Homegrown comedy duo Mel O’Brien and Sam Andrew’s latest offering, No Hat, No Play! The Cabaret is an explosive cabaret of fun and nostalgia that sees them dive into life as a typical Australian primary school kid. There are lots of niche Aussie jokes that are easy to laugh along with, especially…
Review: Jordan Barr Dog Why 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
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Jordan Barr’s Dog Why is a must-see from the Triple J Weekend Breakfast host, delivering sharp, hilarious insights for all the Melbourne girlies. As Jordan says, her show is a cheeky ode to us, the Nietzsche girls, trying to have a Brat summer. Jordan says exactly what we’ve all been…
Review: Neel Kolhatkar, Dirty Flirty 30 Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2025
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Neel Kolhatkar’s Dirty Flirty 30 is a bold and hilarious show that is perfect for anyone who enjoys a mix of relatable observational comedy and edgy humour. I found myself laughing out loud the whole time! Dirty Flirty 30 takes a provocative and inquisitive look at our world and how…
Review: Never Have I Ever Sharply Explores Secrets and Morality
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Deborah Frances-White’s play Never Have I Ever, produced by Melbourne Theatre Company, has arrived in her home country after a successful debut in the UK. It follows a disastrous dinner party between two couples who have known each other since university. As the night progresses, they dance between the forbidden…
